In 1973, Chitwan National Park was established covering 932 sq km area is now listed in the World Heritage site by UNESCO. The Park consists of a diversity of ecosystems-including the Churia hills, Ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise slowly towards the East from 150 m. to more than 800 m. The western portion of the Park is comprised of the lower but more rugged, Someshwor hill. The Park shares its eastern boundary with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

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In 1973, Chitwan National Park was established covering 932 sq km area is now listed in the World Heritage site by UNESCO. The Park consists of a diversity of ecosystems-including the Churia hills, Ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise slowly towards the East from 150 m. to more than 800 m. The western portion of the Park is comprised of the lower but more rugged, Someshwor hill. The Park shares its eastern boundary with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve. Recently a website has been launched about Chitwan that provides almost all of the information about Chitwan and Chitwan National Park. The website address is [http://chitwan.info http://chitwan.info]. You can get all information including past and present. You can also find events that is going to happen in future from this website.

===Landscape===

===Landscape===

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==Fees/Permits==

==Fees/Permits==

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For all activities inside and outside (yes, really), visitors must pay NPR 500 for a park permit.

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For all activities inside and outside (yes, really), visitors must pay NPR 500 for a park permit. UPDATE: 24/6/2012 the fees have increased: for SAARC nationals and foreign tourists the fees have been raised from Rs 200 and Rs 500 to Rs 750 and Rs '''1,500''' per person respectively.

==Get around==

==Get around==

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* '''Lake Devital'''

* '''Lake Devital'''

* '''Bikram Baba'''' , a religious site.

* '''Bikram Baba'''' , a religious site.

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* '''Chitwan Hatisar Elephant Breeding Center'''

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* '''Chitwan Hatisar Elephant Breeding Center''' A museum about elephants in Nepal and stalls for about 10 female elephants with their young ones, which are chained and don't look too happy, although breeding elephants for the national park is supposingly helpful.

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* '''Bishajari Tal''' (''20000 Lakes''). This lake chain is made up of many small lakes spreading and covering huge area of national park.

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* '''Bishajari Tal''' (''20000 Lakes''). This lake chain is made up of many small lakes spreading and covering huge area of national park. The name however, doesn't derive from the number of lakes, but from the fact that the lakes are situated about 20 000 feet from the highway - a slight disapointment. You can do a bicycle tour to the lakes, which is quite nice as you see the nature and observe many birds, crocodiles and quite often see a rhino.

* '''World Elephant Polo Competition'''

* '''World Elephant Polo Competition'''

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* '''Local native dances'''

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* '''Local native dances''' - quite interesting and usually included in your "hotel package". Stick dancing is very loud as they hit sticks together to form a rhytm.

==Do==

==Do==

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==Buy==

==Buy==

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* Memo of Elephant and Rhino

* Honey

* Honey

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* Memo of Crocodile

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* Stuff for Bikram Baba if you are religious

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* Stuffs for Bikram Baba if you are religious

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Many hotels in Sauraha that have restaurants serve good food but getting the food is another question, they forget or they dont understand english so they take your order(you think) and disappear to do other things.

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Many hotels in Sauraha that have restaurants serve good food but getting the food is another question-- they forget or they don't understand English so they take your order (you think) and disappear to do other things.

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Especially two places that we were staying at called "Chitwan tiger camp" that is mentioned aswell under stay safe or Backgrounds, where we thought the food was good but the service and the igorance we recived was beyond any excuse that we did not recive either. Do not be hungry coming here or have your own food and order a beer to see the sunset by the riverside are some options.

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Aswell, restaurant at "Jungle Adventure world" where you must bring your nepalese phrase book to make a food order. If you did not get anything what you ordered, walk away with a smile because they do not understand anyway. Enyojed the city restaurants alot though!

* <sleep name="Rhino Lodge &amp; Hotel" alt="" address="Sauraha" directions="Gaida Chowk" phone="00977-56-580065" url="www.rhino-lodge.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="The Rhino Lodge is in the the centre of Sauraha village which is main entrance of the national park and located on the read-edged banks of the gently-flowing Rapti river.Each room has it's own balcony with views across the river, to the jungle and over the hills beyond. At dusk, sit and relax after a day of activities in the park and watch the boats and the elephants, fishermen and farmers emerge from the jungle." lat="" long="" email="inforhino@rhino-lodge.com" fax="00977-56-580091"></sleep>

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* <sleep name="Rhino Lodge &amp; Hotel" alt="" address="Gaida Chowk - Sauraha" directions="" phone="00977-56-580065" url="www.rhinolodge.com.np" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="" email="info@rhinolodge.com.np" fax="00977-56-580091">Located on the banks of the Rapti river. Each room has its own balcony with views across the river, to the jungle and over the hills beyond. </sleep>

* <sleep name="Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+977-1-4361500" email="" fax="" url="http://www.tigermountain.com/index.php?linkid=9 Tiger Tops's website" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Pioneers of environmentally responsible and sustainable conservation tourism, set the standards for the finest wildlife experience in Chitwan. All are located either in the deep jungle or the buffer zone of the park and have the best-trained elephants and wildlife naturalists to take you on superb safaris.</sleep>

* <sleep name="Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+977-1-4361500" email="" fax="" url="http://www.tigermountain.com/index.php?linkid=9 Tiger Tops's website" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Pioneers of environmentally responsible and sustainable conservation tourism, set the standards for the finest wildlife experience in Chitwan. All are located either in the deep jungle or the buffer zone of the park and have the best-trained elephants and wildlife naturalists to take you on superb safaris.</sleep>

Camping is possible near the park, along with a chance to see wild animals.

===Backcountry===

===Backcountry===

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If you want to see more of Nepal, visit any of the tour offices or ask your hotel manager to buy a bus ticket onward. Nearly everyone supplies these so shop around and sometimes you can save a maybe 50-100 rupees on your ticket. The tickets will most likely be for the local bus and not the standard tourist bus like you may have come in.

If you want to see more of Nepal, visit any of the tour offices or ask your hotel manager to buy a bus ticket onward. Nearly everyone supplies these so shop around and sometimes you can save a maybe 50-100 rupees on your ticket. The tickets will most likely be for the local bus and not the standard tourist bus like you may have come in.

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If you want to go to India from Chitwan, you can buy a bus ticket the same way to the border (tell them you want to go to Sonauli). Sonauli is the border town and is about 4 hours from Chitwan. When you arrive, you should be let off at the last stop (after Lumbini, which is only a few minutes apart). Your bus will be swamped with touts wanting to take you the 2km to the border in their bicycle rickshaws. It should only cost NPR30-50 so bargain accordingly. Note that some drivers will take you to a money change office just in front of the Nepal immigration office and then demand extra payment for the unscheduled (read: comissioned) stop. Just pay the formerly agreed upon amount and walk away. The immigration office is on the left side of the road. After getting your exit stamp (don't let them try to charge you a fake exit fee), walk through the large "Welcome to India" arch and proceed straight ahead past the first grouping of police guards on the left and on to a small "office" that is a long table with 3-4 men sitting with entrance forms. The sign is small and so a bit difficult to see and is also on the left side of the road. After filling out your entry form and getting stamped you can either get a taxi to take you onward to your intended city or you can walk approx another 200 meters straight ahead to the bus lot (on right side of road) and ask around for your intended destination.

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If you want to go to India from Chitwan, you can buy a bus ticket the same way to the border (tell them you want to go to Sonauli). Sonauli is the border town and is about 4 hours from Chitwan. When you arrive, you should be let off at the last stop (after Lumbini, which is only a few minutes apart). Your bus will be swamped with touts wanting to take you the 2km to the border in their bicycle rickshaws. It should only cost NPR30-50 so bargain accordingly (and remember to be clear that you are both talking about Nepalise rupees and not Indian rupees!). Note that some drivers will take you to a money change office just in front of the Nepal immigration office and then demand extra payment for the unscheduled (read: comissioned) stop. Just pay the formerly agreed upon amount and walk away. The immigration office is on the left side of the road. After getting your exit stamp (don't let them try to charge you a fake exit fee), walk through the large "Welcome to India" arch and proceed straight ahead past the first grouping of police guards on the left and on to a small "office" that is a long table with 3-4 men sitting with entrance forms. The sign is small and so a bit difficult to see and is also on the left side of the road. After filling out your entry form and getting stamped you can either get a taxi to take you onward to your intended city or you can walk approx another 200 meters straight ahead to the bus lot (on right side of road) and ask around for your intended destination.

Revision as of 20:05, 14 December 2012

Contents

Understand

History

In 1973, Chitwan National Park was established covering 932 sq km area is now listed in the World Heritage site by UNESCO. The Park consists of a diversity of ecosystems-including the Churia hills, Ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise slowly towards the East from 150 m. to more than 800 m. The western portion of the Park is comprised of the lower but more rugged, Someshwor hill. The Park shares its eastern boundary with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve. Recently a website has been launched about Chitwan that provides almost all of the information about Chitwan and Chitwan National Park. The website address is http://chitwan.info. You can get all information including past and present. You can also find events that is going to happen in future from this website.

Landscape

Its a plain region.

Flora and fauna

There are many species of birds, crocodiles, rhinos, sloth bears, tigers (though almost never seen), and monkeys. The elephants you will see walking through the village are domesticated and used for taking tourists on sightseeing excursions. Of course it would not be Nepal without the usual cows, goats, and stray dogs roaming the village as well. Rhino sightings less than a half-mile from the village are not uncommon.

Climate

It is quite hot and humid most of the year.

Get in

By bus Take the tourist bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Stop in at one of the many tour agencies (in either city) at least 1-2 days before your journey. From Kathmandu, Chitwan is about 4 hours (cost is approx NPR 350 for standard tourist bus, no A/C). From Pokhara, it is maybe 6 hours. When you arrive in Chitwan (the village), you will need to take a horse cart or bicycle rickshaw (what the locals call a "taxi") the 7km into the tiny village that Sauraha. A bicycle rickshaw can take about 45 minutes and costs NPR120. When you arrive, you can easily walk down the main road that is lined with lodges and guest houses.

Rainbow Safari tours operates a bus that goes directly from the tourist bus park outside Thamel in Kathmandu to the bus park just outside Sauraha (as of Dec 3, 2010). When you get off the bus, you will be swarmed by touts waving pamphlets and offering to drive you into town. Ignore them or say you have a reservation and they will be respectful. It is a 15 minute walk into town. Backtrack on the dirt road the bus drove in on, take your first right, then follow the lodge signs into Sauraha.

Fees/Permits

For all activities inside and outside (yes, really), visitors must pay NPR 500 for a park permit. UPDATE: 24/6/2012 the fees have increased: for SAARC nationals and foreign tourists the fees have been raised from Rs 200 and Rs 500 to Rs 750 and Rs 1,500 per person respectively.

Get around

Pony & trap Pony rickshaws for 2 people

Ox cart Bigger groups can be pulled by 2 oxen

Elephant It's Nepal - everything's possible

Jeep

See

Gharial Breeding Center, Kasara 1Km. A crocodile breeding center.

Lake Lamital

Lake Devital

Bikram Baba' , a religious site.

Chitwan Hatisar Elephant Breeding Center A museum about elephants in Nepal and stalls for about 10 female elephants with their young ones, which are chained and don't look too happy, although breeding elephants for the national park is supposingly helpful.

Bishajari Tal (20000 Lakes). This lake chain is made up of many small lakes spreading and covering huge area of national park. The name however, doesn't derive from the number of lakes, but from the fact that the lakes are situated about 20 000 feet from the highway - a slight disapointment. You can do a bicycle tour to the lakes, which is quite nice as you see the nature and observe many birds, crocodiles and quite often see a rhino.

World Elephant Polo Competition

Local native dances - quite interesting and usually included in your "hotel package". Stick dancing is very loud as they hit sticks together to form a rhytm.

Do

Hiking

Jungle Safari

Elephant ride

Boating in Rapti

Motorcycle Safari Explore the Jungle and traditional Tharu villages on a classic motorcycle. Hearts and Tears Motorcycle Club organise everything out of Pokhara, and bring a local nature guide along for the ride. Just amazing.

Buy

Honey

Stuff for Bikram Baba if you are religious

Many hotels in Sauraha that have restaurants serve good food but getting the food is another question-- they forget or they don't understand English so they take your order (you think) and disappear to do other things.

Drink

Jungle Pub The original bar on the beach, and the ideal place to watch the sun go down over the jungle. It's also the hang-out of the custom motorcycle riders from Kathmandu and Pokhara when they're in town, so you might see some interesting Royal Enfield bikes.

Rhino Lodge & Hotel, Gaida Chowk - Sauraha, ☎00977-56-580065 ([email protected], fax: 00977-56-580091), [4]. Located on the banks of the Rapti river. Each room has its own balcony with views across the river, to the jungle and over the hills beyond.

Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, ☎+977-1-4361500, [7]. Pioneers of environmentally responsible and sustainable conservation tourism, set the standards for the finest wildlife experience in Chitwan. All are located either in the deep jungle or the buffer zone of the park and have the best-trained elephants and wildlife naturalists to take you on superb safaris.

Hotel River Side, Sauraha, ☎+977-56-580009 ([email protected]). Several activities are possible from there like elephant safaris, bird watching, cultural tours.Rs 2500 for one night and two days.

Camping is possible near the park, along with a chance to see wild animals.

Backcountry

Get out

If you want to see more of Nepal, visit any of the tour offices or ask your hotel manager to buy a bus ticket onward. Nearly everyone supplies these so shop around and sometimes you can save a maybe 50-100 rupees on your ticket. The tickets will most likely be for the local bus and not the standard tourist bus like you may have come in.

If you want to go to India from Chitwan, you can buy a bus ticket the same way to the border (tell them you want to go to Sonauli). Sonauli is the border town and is about 4 hours from Chitwan. When you arrive, you should be let off at the last stop (after Lumbini, which is only a few minutes apart). Your bus will be swamped with touts wanting to take you the 2km to the border in their bicycle rickshaws. It should only cost NPR30-50 so bargain accordingly (and remember to be clear that you are both talking about Nepalise rupees and not Indian rupees!). Note that some drivers will take you to a money change office just in front of the Nepal immigration office and then demand extra payment for the unscheduled (read: comissioned) stop. Just pay the formerly agreed upon amount and walk away. The immigration office is on the left side of the road. After getting your exit stamp (don't let them try to charge you a fake exit fee), walk through the large "Welcome to India" arch and proceed straight ahead past the first grouping of police guards on the left and on to a small "office" that is a long table with 3-4 men sitting with entrance forms. The sign is small and so a bit difficult to see and is also on the left side of the road. After filling out your entry form and getting stamped you can either get a taxi to take you onward to your intended city or you can walk approx another 200 meters straight ahead to the bus lot (on right side of road) and ask around for your intended destination.Wikipedia:Royal Chitwan National Park